Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

In This Issue...

• Teen Court Opens Its Doors. A new restorative justice program for youth, part of Trillium’s vision for a community-driven Teen Center.
• Changemakers Step Up. Students stepping into leadership, building relationships, and sparking community change.
• Healthcare on the Brink. Cuts from the “Big Beautiful Bill” threaten access to care, and what this means for communities.
• Community Action on Lilies. Join us at the Oct 8th Water Board meeting. Bring your testimony and your neighbors.
• Meet Michael: Reviving Youth Mentorship. Our newest team member, reviving Humboldt’s youth program.

Teen Court Finds a New Home at Trillium House: A Bold Step for Youth, By Youth

Something big is taking root in Del Norte.

Trillium, a fiscally sponsored project of True North, is proud to house the John Wilson Teen Court of Del Norte: a peer-led, community-powered alternative for young people navigating first-time, non-violent offenses.

Teen Court isn’t your typical program. It’s a place where teens hold space for one another, helping their peers reflect, take accountability, and move forward. It’s about second chances. About listening. About building a culture where growth is possible and mistakes don’t define a life.

What makes Teen Court Different?

Young people serve as jurors and advocates, helping their peers resolve real cases through restorative practices. Each case is an opportunity to learn, to lead, and to support one another. It’s civic engagement in action…and it works.

With a new home base at Trillium House, located 681 H Street in Crescent City, Teen Court now has a space to train peer leaders, build relationships, and host proceedings when court rooms or classrooms are not available, in a space built for youth.



And it’s not just about changing outcomes for the youth involved, it’s about building a new kind of system rooted in community care.

“Teen Court wouldn’t be possible without our local partners,” says Director Denise Doyle-Schnacker. “From the courts to schools to community members, this has been a collective effort to offer something truly transformative.”

According to the official announcement, agencies like Superior Court, Del Norte Sheriff, Crescent City Police, the District Attorney, Probation, DNUSD, and local Health & Behavioral Health branches will remain involved, helping shape a model that uplifts—not punishes—our youth.

Help Shape the Future With Us

We’re looking for both youth and adult volunteers to help this program thrive.

• Know a young person (ages 13-18) in Del Norte County who’s ready to lead and make a difference? Teen Court is seeking peer jurors and youth advocates who can volunteer 2-4 hours a month. It’s a chance to build leadership skills, support their peers, and be part of something meaningful. Sign up here.
• Are you an adult with a skill, space, or project to share? We’re also seeking adult partners who can offer restorative opportunities for youth participants—like helping elders, working on a farm, supporting a food pantry, or contributing to community clean-up efforts.
• To get involved, contact Denise at teencourtdelnorte@gmail.com

We’re not just launching a program, we’re launching a movement: one rooted in restoration, responsibility, and youth leadership.

This is what community care looks like. Learn more about Teen Court here. 

Changemakers:

Youth Leading the Way in DNATL

The Changemakers leadership team, which is in its 4th year, is giving young people in Del Norte a chance to step into leadership, build relationships, and spark community change.

Launched in 2022 as a summer initiative to bring incoming freshmen & existing high-schoolers together to build relationships with each other, learn about local history, and make change in their community, Changemakers has grown into a youth-led space where students learn leadership skills, connect with peers, and begin to see themselves as agents of change. Incoming freshmen work alongside older students, a majority of who are trained Sources of Strength leaders through the school district. Together, they have learned about the different local people groups who live in Del Norte; have explored the outdoors through nature hikes, kayaking, and visits to the Smith River and Pacific Ocean; and have practiced how to lead with courage and care.

This year, these youth leaders moved beyond thinking about improving their classrooms and schools and into broader civic life. In July, Changemakers attended a Board of Supervisors meeting to learn about local government. They researched who represented their neighborhoods, looked up their district supervisors, and prepared thoughtful questions about issues that mattered most to them—like the conditions of roads and sidewalks, community litter, and safe spaces for young people to gather.

After the meeting, District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey introduced herself and joined the group later that day for an impromptu conversation. Inspired by their questions and energy, she later shared on Facebook:

“What a fabulous afternoon talking with the Change Makers! This group of students take on the challenge of creating change within their own environments. Tackling tough issues that are important to them.”

The students didn’t stop there. They held a community walk, mapping out where sidewalks were in disrepair, where trash cans were missing, and how neighborhoods felt to walk through. By the end of the day, they were buzzing with ideas—from adding public trash cans to installing a community bulletin board near the library fountain in Mason Mall. One youth leader reflected on what changes would make the community more accessible:

“My hope is more walkability. It’s a small town, it should already be walkable. For people using wheelchairs or crutches, it’s harder when sidewalks suddenly cut off or have a bunch of potholes.” - Changemakers Youth Leader, Raven

One of their next steps is to meet with Crescent City Manager Eric Wier to learn what resources are available, what is already being planned to improve the city, and how city leadership might be able to partner with them.

For the youth, the process has been just as important as the outcomes. They are learning that leadership isn’t about waiting for adults to fix things, it’s about building relationships, asking questions, and working together to make change together.

The Changemakers show what’s possible when young people are given the tools to lead and the space to dream. 

The Impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill,"

Healthcare Cuts Are Coming to the North Coast

Big shifts to healthcare are on the horizon. Congress recently passed President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” Behind the name is a harsh reality: this law cuts federal funding for care and basic services while sending more money to ICE and the Border Patrol. In rural and Tribal communities like ours, where systems are already stretched thin, the damage will hit first and worst. See how it will impact our region:

What we're doing: Healthcare is a community issue. In the weeks ahead, we will be listening deeply to families and the community to understand how these changes are affecting you, and to figure out how we will respond together.

Reach out to an Organizer to share your story:

• DNATL: Mica Brooks, micab@truenorthorganizing.org
• Humboldt: Evan Morden, evanm@truenorthorganizing.org

Speak Up for Smith River Water Quality,

Oct 8th

The Smith River is known as one of the cleanest, wildest rivers in the country. But for decades, lily bulb farming has relied on massive amounts of pesticides, including the chemicals 1,3-D and metam sodium, both banned in many other countries. These toxins don’t stay in the fields. They drift into neighborhoods, surround Smith River Elementary School, and seep into the water that families use every day.

Residents have reported rashes, coughs, headaches, and other health problems. Many families no longer drink their water. Meanwhile, endangered coho at the mouth of the river have also been harmed, with federal agencies warning growers in 2018 that they were violating the Clean Water Act.

Now, the North Coast Regional Water Board is holding a public meeting in Crescent City. This is one of the few chances our community has to speak directly to decision-makers about what’s happening in the Smith River Plain.

Every voice counts. Your story or concern adds pressure for stronger protections.

Bring your testimony. Bring your neighbors. Together, we can make sure the Water Board hears loud and clear: clean water and healthy communities must come first.

Revitalizing Youth Mentorship

in the Eel River Valley

We welcomed Micheal Connelly to our Humboldt team to help revitalize the Eel River Youth Mentorship Program, supporting BIPOC youth in the Eel River Valley.

More Updates...

Prayer Vigil and Day of Solidarity

Unite the North Coast

On August 23rd, more than thirty community members of all ages gathered in Crescent City for a silent interfaith prayer vigil. The gathering created a visible, peaceful space at the Beachfront Park Gazebo where people came together in solidarity with immigrant and 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbors. Songs and prayers opened the vigil, followed by fifteen minutes of shared silence—an act of presence and unity that closed with a traditional Tolowa song reminding us that even the smallest voices can carry strength and hope. Many lingered afterward to connect, with participants expressing a desire to continue these gatherings.

That same spirit of solidarity was also felt in Arcata, where True North leaders joined community members for the Day of Solidarity and Sanctuary. Across both counties, our network lifted up the values of dignity, belonging, and justice—rooted in the shared belief that every person has the right to life, liberty, and respect.

House Meetings: A New Season of Listening

This fall, we’re beginning something new: House Meetings. Over the summer, our teams gathered Leaders for trainings on how to host these small gatherings—where neighbors and friends come together to share stories, listen deeply, and connect.

House Meetings have long been used as a way for people to gather in homes and community spaces to talk about their struggles and imagine what could be done. The power of these meetings is simple: when people sit down together in a safe space, listen to one another, share experiences, and imagine solutions, relationships grow stronger and momentum for change begins to build.

The goal is not to take a survey or vent frustrations, but to create a culture of listening. Everyone has a chance to be heard. People leave feeling more connected, more hopeful, and ready to take the next step alongside their neighbors.

These first trainings mark the beginning of many more gatherings to come. In the months ahead, House Meetings will continue to spread across our region and statewide network as we listen, learn, and walk together toward the change our communities are calling for.

Are you interested in hosting a House Meeting?

In DNATL, reach out to Amy: amycb@truenorthorganizing.org

In Humboldt, reach out to Evan at: evanm@truenorthorganizing.org

Yurok Chair Forum:

Community, Questions, Connection

On September 17, nearly 100 Tribal and community members joined the Yurok Chair Candidates Forum, gathering in McKinleyville and tuning in virtually, coordinated by True North Tribal Leaders. All six candidates for Tribal Chair participated, responding to questions shaped by Native Leaders and recent community conversations.

The discussion lifted up urgent and long-term priorities like women’s safety, services for Tribal elders, the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, and each candidate’s vision for the Tribe’s future.“I was impressed with how thoughtful and passionate they all were. They were taking this seriously, this was important, being a leader for our Tribe matters to all of them.” shared Tamara Brooks, Tribal Leader and Yurok citizen.

The strong turnout reflected both the importance of this election and the power of creating spaces where community voices guide the conversation. Thank you to everyone who joined us. If you couldn’t make it, you can watch the full forum HERE.

If you’re a registered Yurok voter, the primary election is October 8.

Mark Your Calendars...

Crescent City Town Hall

with Congressman Jared Huffman

North Coast Regional Water Board Meeting